Texans Notes: Rookie RB Slaton has big day

MEGAN MANFULL, Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle |
September 22, 2008

Texans rookie running back Steve Slatonwas impressive in his first start. His second carry of the game went for 50 yards, and he finished with 18 carries for 116 yards . He also had four catches for 8 yards.

He had nine carries and 104 yards in the first half alone.

“I knew Slaton was capable of that,” right tackle Eric Winstonsaid. “We all knew he had that speed and, with our system, that he can break one any time. And he proved that. I wish we could have gotten him the ball more in the second half. I think he’s a guy that can light one up at any point, and I think you’re going to see a lot more of him.”

Slaton’s 104 first-half rushing yards made him the second Texan to go over 100 in the first half of a game. Domanick (Davis) Williams ran for 121 yards at Jacksonville on Dec. 24, 2004.

Slaton’s 50-yard carry was the second-longest run in Texans history.

“The D-end hit me and didn’t wrap up,” Slaton said. “I just got pushed to the outside, and there wasn’t anybody out there.”

Pleas unheeded

The question was whether McCareins had either of his feet in bounds when he caught the ball.

“Upstairs, we never got that replay,” Kubiak said. “That’s my understanding. It was very close.”

Kubiak did challenge a call midway through the first quarter when Matt Schaubs pass intended forJoel Dreessen was intercepted by Michael Griffin. The call was upheld, leaving Kubiak 0-for-3 on challenges this season and 4-for-16 since 2006.

“I thought on the first one the kid maybe didn’t have total control and the helmet hit the out-of-bounds line,” Kubiak said. “Obviously not.”

Sad sacks

Quarterback Matt Schaub was sacked three times, boosting his season total to eight . He was sacked only 16 times in 11 starts last season.

Left end JevonKearserecorded one of the sacks — his first solo sack since returning to Tennessee in the offseason after spending the previous four seasons in Philadelphia.

“This is only the beginning, so I have to keep working hard at it,” said Kearse, known as “The Freak.”

“It’s coming slowly but surely. I made the airplane wings with my arms after the game to get some ‘Freak-quent’ flier miles. I have to work on getting a whole lot more of those.”

Big return for Jones

Punt returner Jacoby Jones had his best return of the season with a 33-yard gain on his fourth and final attempt. The Titans were also charged with a personal foul for shoving Jones when he was already out of bounds, giving the Texans the ball on Tennessee’s 22-yard line.

That ensuing drive resulted in an interception by Cortland Finnegan, which he returned 99 yards for a Titans touchdown.

“I’m starting to get a rhythm back and my feeling back,” Jones said. “I’ll be anxious to return another punt next week to help us get going, get the team going, get back to work.”

“I think we knew everything they were about to do. We’ll go back and watch film to see what exactly didn’t work. Going through everything we went through, you can’t wait to get on the field. All of a sudden, you had a bye week that you didn’t know about.”